Students Hear from Surgeons, Step into National Leadership, Test Clinical Skills and More
Published February 18, 2026
Surgeon Panel Hosted by the California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine Chapter of the Association of Women Surgeons
The California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM) chapter of the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) recently hosted a surgeon panel that gave medical students an inside look at the realities of residency training and work–life balance across a range of surgical specialties.
The surgeons shared candid insights into how they chose their specialties, the factors that shaped those decisions and what their day-to-day clinical and operative responsibilities look like in practice. They spoke openly about both the challenges and rewards of surgical careers, helping to demystify common concerns about lifestyle, training intensity and long-term fulfillment.
Read more about the CHSU-COM Association of Women Surgeons surgeon panel and its impact on medical students’ understanding of surgical careers.
Two Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine Students Elected to National Leadership Roles with Student Osteopathic Medical Association
Two third-year students from Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) have been elected to national leadership positions with the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA). Preston Capener (pictured right) and Lauren Huelson (pictured left) will serve on the National SOMA Board of Directors, representing LMU-DCOM while advocating for osteopathic medical students nationwide.
Preston was elected National Treasurer for SOMA and will begin his term March 29, 2026, serving through March 2027. In this role, he will sit on the SOMA Board of Trustees and oversee the creation and management of the organization’s national budget. Lauren serves as SOMA’s Director of Membership and Alumni Affairs. Her appointment began in December 2025, and she will serve a one-year term.
Read more about LMU-DCOM students’ new national leadership roles with SOMA.
Curiosity at the Interface
Mahan Hadjian didn’t expect to find himself at the cutting-edge of national research, but that’s exactly where he landed thanks to a prestigious fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Hadjian recently spent a yearlong fellowship at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke on the Bethesda, Maryland, campus under the guidance of Richard Youle, PhD, who is well known for his work elucidating the roles of mitochondria, mitophagy and autophagy in Parkinson’s disease.
“It was a great opportunity to expand my capabilities and learn,” Mahan said. “Everybody was smart, curious and friendly.”
Read more about Mahan’s NIH fellowship experience and the research he conducted.
Students Put Their Skills to the Test at the 2026 Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine Olympics
What began four years ago as a friendly “Anesthesia Olympics” has evolved into one of the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM)’s most anticipated hands-on learning events of the year. Now known as the ICOM Olympics, the annual competition brings together multiple student organizations, nine procedural events and dozens of future physicians ready to challenge their clinical skills – and each other.
This year’s expanded event featured the coordinated involvement of six student clubs, each hosting a station aligned with their specialty. Participants rotated through nine different procedures that mirror real-world tasks physicians perform in fast-paced clinical settings.
Read more about the 2026 ICOM Olympics and how students sharpened their clinical skills.
VCOM-Louisiana Community Supports Local Needs Through LifeShare Blood Drive
Recently, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) community came together for the American College of Osteopathic Internists’ second LifeShare Blood Drive of the year. VCOM-Louisiana students and staff donated blood, making a meaningful impact one donation at a time. Rhett Murphrey, OMS II, cardiology chair of the American College of Osteopathic Internists, emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “This is important to us because having blood drives helps us showcase our mission and duty as future physicians. It is a practical way of embracing our community and indirectly helping those patients in need. Giving blood provides a sense of service and self-sacrifice.”
View more photos from the LifeShare Blood Drive on VCOM-Louisiana’s Facebook.
VCOM-Auburn Joins Auburn, Alabama, Community for the 14th Annual Polar Plunge Benefiting Lee County Special Olympics
On January 24, 2026, the Auburn, Alabama, community—including students from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn)—came together for the 14th Annual Auburn Polar Plunge at Samford Pool. The event raised nearly $7,000 for Lee County Special Olympics, and participants included local students, athletes, civic leaders, law enforcement and community groups. “It’s a wonderful representation of what Auburn is really all about,” Mayor Ron Anders said.
View more photos from the 14th Annual Auburn Polar Plunge on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.
Gov. Morrisey Visits West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine to Announce Water Infrastructure Project
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) hosted a press conference by West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey on February 9, 2026. Morrisey announced a public water line extension project in western Greenbrier County, parts of which currently rely on private water sources such as wells.
Morrisey said a $2 million grant through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program will be used to extend water service from Sam Black Church to Smoot Elementary School. The AMLER program assists projects located on or adjacent to mine sites that have ceased operations, with the goal of reclaiming these sites as platforms for growth.
Read more about Gov. Morrisey’s announcement and the impact of the AMLER-funded water infrastructure project.